I am still looking for a 3bed/1+ba rowhome east of the river (Deanwood, Congress Heights) though think I will have to increase my budget and try to stay <$220k purchase price with <$40k in reno to get it reliably rentable (looking to buy and hold, not flip).Do folks think this is reasonable in that market or am I fooling myself? 

It’s a bit hard to find good properties, because I don’t know much about the neighborhoods or how to find reliable management companies and handymen (and unlike the UK, neighborhoods in the US are much bigger with much great variation)After doing research Turn Key seems to be the way to go.

I doubt Indio has anything like that but I haven't seen any reliable data.

Some do require some money upfront, they say it's for materials, but in all honesty I usually ask for around 10% up front just to make sure that after I have done some work they don't say something like "we've changed our minds" Though I'm more like your "handyman" and certainly I don't do big jobs like a GC.With respect to making sure they're reliable.

Price, reliability, etc???

Can anyone refer a reliable, real estate investor-friendly agent who can show me around? 

Or on items that I can pretty reliably predict to be long term expenditures, can I use that money as down payment on another property (eventually) which will build value, and then be available to finance against when it comes time to replace the roof of the original property?

I am seeking  for recommendation for reliable property management company in Springfield MA.

@Vince Lucas  one thing I can tell you also from experience first hand is contractors are much better and reliable in Cleveland than FLA.. they tend to be very transient in FLA and not so much.our guys know em out in 10 days or so in Cleveland lucky to rehab in 2 months in FLA.. with the contractor base there..

From what I've seen, many new wholesalers make the mistake of inflating ARV values out of inexperience, greed, etc. what are some reliable sources for pulling comps so that I can get a more realistic ARV.